Co-sponsorship of Senator Jinggoy Estrada on PSR 256
Resolution expressing the sense of the Senate in condemning recent public statements by the Chinese Embassy in Manila concerning Philippine officials and institutions
27 January 2026
Mr. President, dear colleagues,
I rise to co-sponsor a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate to condemn the unacceptable remarks of the Chinese Embassy in Manila against our Philippine officials with regard to the West Philippine Sea.
I pose this question: What is the business of Chinese Embassy officials criticizing our public officials and even calling them names—branding senators as “helpers” of Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela in defending our rights in the West Philippine Sea, because, as they claim, Commodore Tarriela can’t win over the argument?
Hindi man ako sang-ayon sa naging gawi ni Commodore Tarriela, ngunit hindi ito sapat na dahilan upang pakialaman ng Chinese Embassy ang internal affairs at soberanya ng ating bansa.
This is not only an assault against individual senators but an affront to the Philippine Senate as an institution. This representation joins the chorus in strongly condemning the pronouncements of the Chinese Embassy in Manila against our public officials.
We should not just let this slide.
There is no argument to begin with. The 2016 arbitral award is final and binding. Atin ang West Philippine Sea.
This is all part of their tactics: They are looking to scare, coerce, and intimidate their neighbors to pursue their wild imaginary claims over our territories, even after an arbitral ruling delivered a unanimous and enduring decision in 2016 firmly asserting that the Philippines has a full exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea, invalidating China’s claim to almost 80% of the Philippine EEZ.
Both China and the Philippines, pursuant to their treaty obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), are legally bound to comply with this decision.
As your former chairperson of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, my position on the West Philippine Sea has always been consistent with the position of the Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The UNCLOS and the Arbitral Award continue to be the foundation of our actions and policies on the West Philippine Sea. But China had no respect for the 2016 arbitral ruling and for international law—just as they had no respect to our fishermen—even water cannoning them—to the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy patrols, and recently, to the elected senators of the Republic.
Namimihasa na kayo!
Sino ba ang pumapanig sa kanila sa pag-angkin sa West Philippine Sea? Ang sagot: Halos wala. Hindi ang internasyonal na batas, hindi ang pandaigdigang komunidad, at lalong hindi ang mga bansang direktang apektado ng kanilang pang-aangkin.
Ang tinatawag nilang “historical rights” ay hindi kinikilala ng modernong batas pandagat. At ang pagdidikta sa pamamagitan ng lakas o puwersa ay hindi nagiging katotohanan kahit idaan pa sa pananakot at mapanganib na maniobra, kahit gaano pa kadami at kalaki ang kanilang barko, at kahit idaan sa propaganda na walang basehan.
Mr. President, we, as a nation, will continue to assert our rights under international law. Our kababayans deserve nothing less than a government that firmly stands its ground in asserting our sovereignty and defending our nation’s interest.
Mr. President, I repeat: Atin ang West Philippine Sea.
Thank you, Mr. President.